Louis Nicholas Vauquelin discovered beryllium in 1797 as a component of beryl ore. Friedrich Wöhler and Antoine Bussy first produced beryllium (with impurities) in its metallic form as a dust by reducing beryllium chloride with potassium.
It was previously called glucinum because chemists ingested the metal and noticed its sweet taste, before its high toxicity was known.
Refinement
Modern beryllium refinement is accomplished by reduction of beryllium fluoride with magnesium. Reduction is a process by which a chemical gains electrons.
BeF2+ + Mg = MgF2+ + Be
Health Effects
Beryllium as well as the majority of compounds containing beryllium are highly carcinogenic in humans and across animal species. Exposure to beryllium can cause both acute and chronic illnesses. Inhalation of beryllium may cause lung cancer, but the main health threat from beryllium is Chronic beryllium disease. (CBD) CBD is a lung disease caused by hypersensitivity to beryllium particles. Around 1-15% of people become sensitive to beryllium months to years after a high exposure, resulting in the immune system recognizing the particles as an infectious agent. The particles generally occur in the lungs, but other organs can sometimes be affected if the beryllium accumulates there. Since the beryllium particles are recognized as infectious agents, the white blood cells attempt to destroy the beryllium and form clumps around them called granulomas. Eventually, the granulomas inhibit the normal functions of the lungs, and the lungs become unable to transfer oxygen. The disease may cause difficulty breathing, coughing, fatigue, night sweats, weakness, weight loss, and possibly heart problems. It is incurable with current medicine but the symptoms are treatable. Generally it is treated with oxygen and immune system suppressants. If a high enough amount of beryllium is inhaled within a short period of time, an acute disease, Acute beryllium disease (ACD) can occur. The disease is similar to pneumonia and because high concentrations are needed it rarely occurs outside of industries where workers handle large amounts of beryllium. Skin contact with beryllium is also hazardous, and contact can cause lesions, rashes and ulcers if beryllium makes contact with open cuts or wounds.
Environmental Effects
Naturally, beryllium exists in the Earth’s crust at 6 parts per million, which is not enough to have any noticeable effect on animal or plant life. However, industrial activities such as metal production and coal processing lead to drastic increases in the beryllium levels in soil. For the most part, beryllium will not pervade into deeper levels of soil or reach groundwater where it would be dissolved.
If beryllium makes contact with water, it will probably become insoluble because of reactions with chemicals in the water, making it pose less of a threat to aquatic life. It does not bioaccumulate in fish, or most animals, and is generally excreted with waste. Fruits and vegetables, however, can reach levels of beryllium dangerous for organisms that eat them.
Beryllium is not usually harmful as a solid metal. Solid beryllium will not corrode and dissolve into water, but the dust that results from its production is toxic and disperses easily.
Commercial Applications
Beryllium’s main commercial applications are as an alloy to harden other metals, (due to it being one of the hardest of the light metals) for tools and drill bits, and for many radiation-related purposes such as X-ray windows due to its high permeability to X-rays. Beryllium’s applications, excluding radiation, can easily be displaced by other, more expensive, but more efficient, environmentally friendly, and non-toxic chemicals. Titanium is relatively lightweight and extremely hard, much harder than beryllium. It is also non-toxic and safe for the environment, however industry chooses to use beryllium because it is cheaper. Diamond-tipped drill bits, unlike those made of beryllium and other metals, don’t dull over time and are sharper, and therefore perform better and don’t need to be replaced as often.
Summary
Because beryllium's main threat is in powder form, which only usually occurs when it is produced, to prevent harmful effects of beryllium, the demand for beryllium production must cease. The biggest thing you can do is to not buy products that contain beryllium. Nearly everything beryllium is used for, barring the applications that take advantage of its permeability to radiation, can be done better by another material. Many materials are more lightweight than beryllium and are harder and have a higher melting point, but they are more expensive. They don't, however, cause cancer.
Beryllium
Background
Louis Nicholas Vauquelin discovered beryllium in 1797 as a component of beryl ore. Friedrich Wöhler and Antoine Bussy first produced beryllium (with impurities) in its metallic form as a dust by reducing beryllium chloride with potassium.It was previously called glucinum because chemists ingested the metal and noticed its sweet taste, before its high toxicity was known.
Refinement
Modern beryllium refinement is accomplished by reduction of beryllium fluoride with magnesium. Reduction is a process by which a chemical gains electrons.BeF2+ + Mg = MgF2+ + Be
Health Effects
Beryllium as well as the majority of compounds containing beryllium are highly carcinogenic in humans and across animal species. Exposure to beryllium can cause both acute and chronic illnesses. Inhalation of beryllium may cause lung cancer, but the main health threat from beryllium is Chronic beryllium disease. (CBD) CBD is a lung disease caused by hypersensitivity to beryllium particles. Around 1-15% of people become sensitive to beryllium months to years after a high exposure, resulting in the immune system recognizing the particles as an infectious agent. The particles generally occur in the lungs, but other organs can sometimes be affected if the beryllium accumulates there. Since the beryllium particles are recognized as infectious agents, the white blood cells attempt to destroy the beryllium and form clumps around them called granulomas. Eventually, the granulomas inhibit the normal functions of the lungs, and the lungs become unable to transfer oxygen. The disease may cause difficulty breathing, coughing, fatigue, night sweats, weakness, weight loss, and possibly heart problems. It is incurable with current medicine but the symptoms are treatable. Generally it is treated with oxygen and immune system suppressants. If a high enough amount of beryllium is inhaled within a short period of time, an acute disease, Acute beryllium disease (ACD) can occur. The disease is similar to pneumonia and because high concentrations are needed it rarely occurs outside of industries where workers handle large amounts of beryllium. Skin contact with beryllium is also hazardous, and contact can cause lesions, rashes and ulcers if beryllium makes contact with open cuts or wounds.Environmental Effects
Naturally, beryllium exists in the Earth’s crust at 6 parts per million, which is not enough to have any noticeable effect on animal or plant life. However, industrial activities such as metal production and coal processing lead to drastic increases in the beryllium levels in soil. For the most part, beryllium will not pervade into deeper levels of soil or reach groundwater where it would be dissolved.If beryllium makes contact with water, it will probably become insoluble because of reactions with chemicals in the water, making it pose less of a threat to aquatic life. It does not bioaccumulate in fish, or most animals, and is generally excreted with waste. Fruits and vegetables, however, can reach levels of beryllium dangerous for organisms that eat them.
Beryllium is not usually harmful as a solid metal. Solid beryllium will not corrode and dissolve into water, but the dust that results from its production is toxic and disperses easily.
Commercial Applications
Beryllium’s main commercial applications are as an alloy to harden other metals, (due to it being one of the hardest of the light metals) for tools and drill bits, and for many radiation-related purposes such as X-ray windows due to its high permeability to X-rays. Beryllium’s applications, excluding radiation, can easily be displaced by other, more expensive, but more efficient, environmentally friendly, and non-toxic chemicals. Titanium is relatively lightweight and extremely hard, much harder than beryllium. It is also non-toxic and safe for the environment, however industry chooses to use beryllium because it is cheaper. Diamond-tipped drill bits, unlike those made of beryllium and other metals, don’t dull over time and are sharper, and therefore perform better and don’t need to be replaced as often.Summary
Because beryllium's main threat is in powder form, which only usually occurs when it is produced, to prevent harmful effects of beryllium, the demand for beryllium production must cease. The biggest thing you can do is to not buy products that contain beryllium. Nearly everything beryllium is used for, barring the applications that take advantage of its permeability to radiation, can be done better by another material. Many materials are more lightweight than beryllium and are harder and have a higher melting point, but they are more expensive. They don't, however, cause cancer.